Electromagnetic relay



Sept. 17, 194 6. H HQRMAN ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Filed April 21, 1944 INVENTOR Jr! 11/ M BY 2 ATTOXEYJ Sept. 17, 1946. J, H. HORMAN ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY Filed April 21, 1944 2 SQeets-Sheet 2 ATTOFQNEYZ Patented Sept. 17, 1946 ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAY John H. Herman, Tuckahoe, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Allied Control Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 21, 1944, Serial No. 532,081

4 Claims. 1 This invention relates to electromagnetic relays.

Relays mounted in airplanes are subjected to severe shocks during the operation of the plane by reason of power dives and other causes. These shocks frequently cause improper operation of the so-called clapper-type relays. These relays, therefore, are unsuitable for use in airplanes.

An object of this invention is an electromagnetic relay which is dynamically balanced to nullify the effects of shock or the acceleration of gravity.

A further object is an electromagnetic relay having a high magnetic efficiency.

A still further object is an electromagnetic relay in which the various air gaps in the magnetic circuit are at all times duplicates of each other and have parallel boundaries.

According to this invention, the relay comprises two U-shaped magnetic metal members supported for relative rotation about an axis central of each member and each member having a center section perpendicular to said axis and a pair of legs parallel to said axis. The legs of each member extend toward the other member and each leg terminates in a plane face oblique to said axis and at the same angularity to the plane of the center section of either U- shaped member. An axial magnetic metal member provides a flux path between said two U-shaped members and a coil surrounds said axial member with the coil being partially received by each U-shaped member and being fixed to one U-shaped member. Biasing means are provided for orienting one U-shaped member relative to the other to produce a gap between the opposing leg faces when the coil is deenergized. Energization of the coil causes flow of magnetic flux through the two U-shaped members providing a force tending to bring the opposing leg members into alinement and reducing the gap between the opposing leg faces. Such arrangement produces a high torque on the rotatable U-shaped member as well as a balanced pull thereon. With the coil tie-energized, a predetermined spacing of the oblique surfaces is maintained by the biasing means irrespective of shocks applied to the relay from any cause and the two U-shaped members are retained with the oblique surfaces in juxtaposition upon energization of the coil by reason of the magnetic pull exerted between them. Contacts carried by the movable U-shaped member are, therefore, definitely retained in either of two positions according to whether the coil is energized or not irrespective of shocks to which the relay may be subjected.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a magnetic motor embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end view partly broken away of Fig. 1, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections on the lines 5-5 and 6-6 respectively of Fig. 3.

A substantially U-shaped sheet metal frame It has two apertures in its bight portion through which extend bolts Ii having square heads 52 resting on the inner surface of the frame. A plate It of insulating material rests on the inner surface of the bight portion of the frame and has two recesses receiving the heads 12. The bolts H constitute means by which the frame may be attached to a support.

A second substantially U-shaped member Hi of magnetic metal has its bight portion resting on the plate 13. and has a centrally arranged hollow post is of magnetic metal attached thereto. The lower portion of the bore of the post I5 is screwthreaded and receives a screw-threaded plug 16 having a central recess in its upper face. The lower face of the plug 16 is provided with a screw-driver slot by means of which the plug it may be rotated to adjust it vertically in the post i5. In the upper portion of the bore of the post i5 is arranged a bushing H. A coil 18 surrounds the post I5.

A shaft l9 extends through the bushing l1 which constitutes a bearing for the shaft and the shaft has a pin 25 projecting into the recess in the upper surface of the plug l6, whereby the shaft is journalled for rotation about the axis of the post Hi. The upper end of the shaft 19 projects slightly above the top of the post It and is connected centrally to the bight portion of a second substantially U-shaped member 2! of magnetic metal. The two members 14 and 2| are of the same shape and have their legs extending toward each other. Each leg terminates in an oblique face so arranged that the legs of one U-shaped member may meet the legs of the other U-shaped member along lines oblique to the axis of the post I5. The member 2| is rotatable relative to the member l4 and a stop 22 is provided to prevent the opposing surfaces of the two members I4 and 2| from actually contacting with each other.

The frame ID has two inwardly directed ears 23 which support a block 24 of insulating material which is attached thereto by bolts 25. A plurality of contacts 26 are supported by the block 24 which has a central opening coaxial with the shaft l9.

A substantially S-shaped plate 21 rests on the upper surface of the U-shaped member 2| and on the member 21 rests a spacing block 28 of insulating material which in turn supports a second block 29 of insulating material to which are attached contact arms 38 for co-operation with the contacts 26. The S-shaped plate 21, together with the two blocks 28 and 29 are attached to the U-shaped member 2| by bolts 3|. The ends of the S-shaped member 2? are connected by springs 32 to ears 33 struck out from the frame 10. The arrangement of the member 21 is such that the springs 32 tend to rotate the U-shaped member 2! away from the Ushaped member M. A stop 34 is provided for limiting movement of the member 2| under the influence of the springs 32.

With the coil l8 de-energized, the springs 32 maintain the member 2| in such position as to have a large gap between the opposin faces of the two U-shaped members and the contact arms have one relationship with the contacts in this position of the U-shaped member 2|. Upon energization of the coil IS, the U-shaped member 2| is rotated against the action of the springs to locate it in contact with the stop 22 thereby reducing to its minimum the gap between the opposing suriaces of the two U-shaped members 4 and 2i. In this position of the member 2|, the contact arms have a different circuit relation with respect to the contacts. The U-shaped member 2i remains in the position just described as long as the coil is energized and upon de-enering two U-shaped magnetic metal members supported for relative rotation about an axis central of each member with the legs of each member extending toward the other member and each leg terminating in a face oblique to said axis at the same angularity, a central axial magnetic metal member providing a flux path between said two U-shaped members, and a coil surrounding said axial member with the coil being partially received by each U-shaped member and fixed to one U-shaped member.

2. A device of the character described comprising two U-shaped magnetic metal members provided with magnetic metal means supporting said members for relative rotation about an axis central of each member and constituting a flux path between said members, each leg terminating in a face oblique to said axis at the same angularity, and a coil surrounding said supportin means with the coil partially received by each U-shaped member and fixed to one U-shaped member.

3. A device of the character described comprising a stationary first U-shaped magnetic metal member, a second U-shaped magnetic metal member supported from said first U-shaped membe: for rotation about an axis central of both said U-shaped members by magnetic metal means providin a flux path between said two members, said Ushaped members being arranged with the legs of each extending toward the other and each leg terminating in a face oblique to said axis at the same angularity, and a coil surrounding said flux path means with the coil being partially received and supported by said first U- shaped member and extending into said second U-shaped member.

4. A device of the character described comprising a stationary first U-shaped magnetic metal member, a hollow post connected centrally to said first U-shaped member, a shaft journalled in said post, a second U-shaped magnetic metal member centrally connected to said shaft, each U-shaped member having its legs extending toward the other and each leg terminating in a face oblique to said axis at the same angularity, and a coil surrounding said post with one end received in said first U-shaped member and its remaining end extending into said second U- shaped member.

JOHN H. HORMAN. 

